WondrousStrange Designs

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Crows love to collect sparkly items:) So I have included crystals, safety pins, beads, baubles, coral and silk ribbon. The raku crow skull is
topped with a raku textured cap and one of my eye of newt pieces. All
are attached to strong thin wire and crimped into place. Stirling silver
ear wires complete the earring. Fun to put together:) They dangle
approx. 4 inches from top of ear wire...3 inches assemblage piece.

This was such a fun piece to put together:) All kinds of creepy Halloween fun:) Listed in my Etsy shop today.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Perfect to hang out side or near a window to show all the colors iridescence in the changing light during the day. Large ornament measures approx. 5 1/2 inches tall x 4 1/2 inches in width. Copper glazing on back. It would be pretty with chimes or feathers dangling from the bottom and hanging by your kitchen window:)

Raku is an ancient Japanese glazing style that has been tweaked by modern potters to give wonderful colors and textures. Once a piece is glazed, it is fired to1850 +/- degrees, pulled from the kiln at that temperature and quickly placed in a reduction chamber filled with combustible materials. Immediately the blazing material is starved of oxygen by placing a top on the chamber and left to rest for a determined amount of time. When the top is removed...the treasures are revealed:) Every firing is different in the revealed colors, each piece uniquely different. Because humidity, daily temperatures, my quickness in getting the work in the reduction chamber all contribute to the final result...no two firings are alike. Opening the reduction chamber is always like opening a present at Christmas...never know what you are going to get...sometimes a diamond, sometimes a flannel shirt...but always a treat:)

I chose a really cold day to work again, but the intense colors are worth a bit of cold:)

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Viki inset the raku cabochon into a polymer clay base with a twisted frame. The clay has
been cured and a light dusting of gold has been applied to it. The
primary colors are metallic green, blue, and gold.

They have a lovely Etsy shop in common, that's what:) Viki's shop pages begin with shells, then move to beach related items,
jewelry, and finally her art and clay products. I know you will enjoy your browsing
time!

I am partial to this piece of course because its focal raku piece is one made by my little hands:) I love the simplicity and power behind Viki's creation.

I hope you will take time to stop by her Etsy shop at www.thebeachgirls.etsy.com for a summer time treat with sea shells and clay delights:)

Some of the softer colors from a firing done this spring. These pods are actually pendants. They each have a hole in the top to add to your project. Love the pale pinks, blues and metallics.

Finished Pendant using raku pod.

Another finished piece using an on the edge spear. The raku glaze is only on the edges of the pendants...turned sideways to add more dimension.

Raku always has a mind of its own:) I was hoping for soft blues and metallics but was offered this wonderful earthy mixture of color. Reminds me of an ancient patina bronze. It is always a surprise when I open the kiln!

Because of the randomness of the raku process and the requests I get to repeat a color combination...I have been playing around with a faux raku technique. I am using Gilders Paste and other vivid high pigmented washes and achieving some rather interesting and colorful results. I am quite pleased so far with the experimentation:) I sometimes have a hard time distinguishing which is which and have to turn to the back to see if it is smoke black or natural:) It also helps that I can work in the comfort of air conditioning and can binge watch my favorite TV shows:) Faux Raku is fast becoming one of my favorite past time activities:)

This is my faux raku version of the pendant from above. Which is which??

With the faux raku I can create vivid color on both sides of pendants. That helps if the piece will be seen on both sides as in dangling earrings.

Thanks so much for visiting. Please do visit the Art Bead Scene blog to see amazing raku work from some of the best around:) As always...Health, Happiness and Abundant Creativity to each and all!!

Friday, May 22, 2015

Life is Sometimes a Blur with all the demands we put on ourselves. Hope you can take time this weekend to enjoy family and friends and memories of loved ones gone. Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day holiday!!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

I wanted to share Judy Klein's intricate bead work featuring one of my raku dogwood blossoms surrounded
by opalescent seed beads and iris metallic seeds. The leaves are matte
silver, and the small round beads are a Japanese family crest motif,
also silver. Delightful:)

I am always anxious to see how my little treasures are introduced into a finished piece of art. Judy's work is sold on her daughter Christy's website at Greendragonartist.com . Art, it seems, has been in their blood for generations!